BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD LOOKS AT UPCOMING BUDGET

  

The Brenham School Board took a preliminary look at the upcoming budget during a workshop meeting at noon Monday.  Kim Weatherby, Director of Business & Finance for the District, said that the average daily attendance is up 51 students over last year at 4664.  The average is what the state bases it’s funding of the District from.  She also told the trustees that preliminary property tax appraisals are up and average of 8 percent, which could mean more money coming to the district.  Weatherby said the big unknown is what the Texas Legislature will do as far as school funding:

Trustees will be considering what kind or raise to give district employees for the next school year.  Weatherby said that currently, the starting salary for a new teacher is at 95 percent of the market values, up from 84 percent in 2010.  Brenham is actually paying higher than Bryan or College Station schools currently.  A survey of teachers in the area showed most expected to see a 2 or 3 percent increase in their salary this year.  Last year, Brenham teachers received a 2.5 percent increase in their pay.

Weathery also went over some changes to the Financial Integrity Rating System, which the district has always scored high on.   The system will now be looking at more indicators of financial health for the district, but Weatherby said she expects to still score high.